The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Track and Field Association are on a collision course.
While the Patafa leadership has refused to acknowledge Tabal’s performance overseas, the PSC is convinced that Tabal deserves a spot on the delegation bound for the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia this August.
Patafa boss Philip Juico said they dropped the 27-year-old Tabal from the PH roster to the SEA Games for showing no respect to officials and the association.
“For the record, the selection for the final lineup of the Philippine Team for the SEA Games does not rest alone in performance,” Juico said yesterday in a press briefing attended by members of the national team.
“Joining the national team starts with meeting the prescribed standard,” said the former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission who was joined by other members of the national team.
“It does not end there. Performance therefore, it must be stressed, is not the sole criterion for choosing the most suitable national athlete. Neither is the sole criterion for the privilege of remaining in the roster of national athletes,” he added.
But Tabal found an ally is PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
Ramirez said that while the PSC is aware of the NSA’s autonomy and respects its policies, “we just can’t turn our backs on the 110 million Filipinos.”
Besides, it is the PSC that provides financial support to the athletes and coaches.
The feud involving Tabal and Patafa stretches back to 2013 as the Cebu City native repeatedly opted out to be included in the national pool. (Nick Giongco and Waylon Galvez)